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TESTS FOR PHENYLKETONURIA
In 1961, 756 children were tested at the clinics and another 92 were tested in
their homes.
ANTE-NATAL CLINIC
The recommendation of the Cranbrook Committee on Maternity Services that it was
desirable that all women who were to have their confinement at home should book their
own doctor or a doctor on the obstetric list, as well as a midwife resulted in a reduction
of the number of cases requiring ante-natal care at the Local Authority Clinics.
The clinic mainly affected was the Lady Rayleigh Home and the few cases being seen there
by the Assistant County Medical Officer did not justify its continuation and from
October, 1960 those cases requiring supervision by the doctor were transferred to the
Ante-Natal Clinic at Park House Health Centre.
The number of cases attending at the Ante-Natal Clinic are rising again. Many
expectant mothers find it more convenient to attend there rather than make the longer
journey to hospital and the hospitals' ante-natal departments have requested supervision
during the ante-natal period at the Local Authority Clinic for many of their cases. A
few mothers still prefer to book a midwife for their confinement without booking a
doctor in addition and these patients also attend the local clinic for their supervision.
195 patients made 775 attendances for ante-natal examination and treatment and 59
patients attended 77 times for post-natal examinations during 1961.
MOTHERCRAFT AND RELAXATION CLASSES
These classes are held by the Health Visitors at each of the three Health Centres
and they are well attended. We receive many letters of appreciation of the help that
these classes give. The main benefit received from these classes is a psychological
one, giving women expecting their first baby a feeling of confidence which is so
valuable to them at the time of the birth of the baby, whether the confinement is to
be at home or in hospital.
The Mothers' Hospital at Clapton has a close liaison with the Health Visitors
taking these relaxation classes and the class goes to the hospital with the Health
Visitor to see the labour ward and meet the staff and are made to feel that they will
not be among strangers when the time comes for admittance to hospital.
DENTAL CLINICS
The Area Dental Officer reports as follows:-
"Approximately l/10th or 1 session per week is devoted to this work by the fulltime
dental officers, and comprises all those forms of treatment necessary for complete
dental fitness.
It is pleasing to report that the number of very young children attending for
dental examination before any operative work is necessary continues to increase, and
this is all to the good since they are introduced to these very strange surroundings
at a time when it is unnecessary to detain them for many minutes and the visit is unaccompanied
by unpleasant experience.
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